Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter P - Page 41
Performance (n.) That which is performed or accomplished; a thing done or carried through; an achievement; a deed; an act; a feat; esp., an action of an elaborate or public character. "Her walking and other actual performances." -- Shak. "His musical performances." -- Macaulay.
Syn: Completion; consummation; execution; accomplishment; achievement; production; work; act; action; deed; exploit; feat.
Performance (n.) A dramatic or musical entertainment; "they listened to ten different performances"; "the play ran for 100 performances"; "the frequent performances of the symphony testify to its popularity" [syn: {performance}, {public presentation}].
Performance (n.) The act of presenting a play or a piece of music or other entertainment; "we congratulated him on his performance at the rehearsal"; "an inspired performance of Mozart's C minor concerto".
Performance (n.) The act of performing; of doing something successfully; using knowledge as distinguished from merely possessing it; "they criticised his performance as mayor"; "experience generally improves performance" [syn: {performance}, {execution}, {carrying out}, {carrying into action}].
Performance (n.) Any recognized accomplishment; "they admired his performance under stress"; "when Roger Maris powered four home runs in one game his performance merits awe".
Performance (n.) Process or manner of functioning or operating; "the power of its engine determines its operation"; "the plane's operation in high winds"; "they compared the cooking performance of each oven"; "the jet's performance conformed to high standards" [syn: {operation}, {functioning}, {performance}].
Performance (n.) The act of doing something; the thing done is also called a performance; as, Paul is exonerated from the obligation of his contract by its performance.
Performance (n.) When it contract has been made by parol, which, under the statute of frauds and perjuries, could not be enforced, because it was not in writing, and the party seeking to avoid it, has received the whole or a part performance of such agreement, he cannot afterwards avoid it; 14 John. 15; S. C. 1 John. Ch. R. 273; and such part performance will enable the other party to prove it aliunde. 1 Pet. C. C. R. 380; 1 Rand. R. 165; 1 Blackf. R. 58; 2 Day, R. 255; 1 Desaus. R. 350; 5 Day, R. 67; 1 Binn. R. 218; 3 Paige, R. 545; 1 John. Ch. R. 131, 146. Vide Specific performance.
Performance (n.) (Activity) (B2) [ C or U ] How well a person, machine, etc. does a piece of work or an activity.
// Some athletes take drugs to improve their performance.
// High-performance cars (= those that are fast, powerful, and easy to control) are the most expensive.
// This was a very impressive performance by the young player, who scored 14 points within the first ten minutes.
Performance (n.) (Entertainment) (B1) [ C ] The action of entertaining other people by dancing, singing, acting, or playing music.
// A performance of Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible".
// She gave a superb performance as Lady Macbeth.
A performance (Mainly UK informal) An action or type of behaviour that involves a lot of attention to detail or to small matters that are not important.
// Cleaning the oven is such a performance.
// What a performance! Please stop shouting!
A repeat performance An occasion when an event or a situation happens again.
// The police hope to avoid a repeat performance of last year, when the festivities turned into rioting.
Performer (n.) One who performs, accomplishes, or fulfills; as, a good promiser, but a bad performer; especially, one who shows skill and training in any art; as, a performer of the drama; a performer on the harp.
Performer (n.) An entertainer who performs a dramatic or musical work for an audience [syn: performer, performing artist].
Perfricate (v. t.) To rub over. -- Bailey.
Perfumatory (a.) Emitting perfume; perfuming. [R.] -- Sir E. Leigh.
Perfumed (imp. & p. p.) of Perfume.
Perfuming (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Perfume.
Perfume (v. t.) To fill or impregnate with a perfume; to scent.
And Carmel's flowery top perfumes the skies. -- Pope.
Perfume (v.) The scent, odor, or odoriferous particles emitted from a sweet-smelling substance; a pleasant odor; fragrance; aroma.
No rich perfumes refresh the fruitful field. -- Pope.
Perfume (v.) A substance that emits an agreeable odor.
And thou shalt make it a perfume. -- Ex. xxx. 35.
Perfume (n.) A distinctive odor that is pleasant [syn: aroma, fragrance, perfume, scent].
Perfume (n.) A toiletry that emits and diffuses a fragrant odor [syn: perfume, essence].
Perfume (v.) Fill or impregnate with an odor; "orange blossoms perfumed.
Perfumer (n.) One who, oe that which, perfumes.
Perfumer (n.) One whose trade is to make or sell perfumes.
Perfumer (n.) A person who makes (and sells) perfumes.
Perfumery (n.) Perfumes, in general.
Perfumery (n.) The art of preparing perfumes.
Perfumery (n.) Perfumes in general.
Perfumery (n.) Store where perfumes are sold.
Perfumery (n.) An establishment where perfumes are made.
Perfumery (n.) The art of making perfumes.
Perfunctorily (adv.) In a perfunctory manner; formally; carelessly. -- Boyle.
Perfunctorily (adv.) In a set manner without serious attention; "they answered my letter pro forma"; "he kissed her cheek perfunctorily" [syn: perfunctorily, as a formality, pro forma].
Perfunctoriness (n.) The quality or state of being perfunctory.
Perfunctory (a.) Done merely to get rid of a duty; performed mechanically and as a thing of rote; done in a careless and superficial manner; characterized by indifference; as, perfunctory admonitions ; a perfunctory greeting. -- Macaulay.
Perfunctory (a.) Hence: Mechanical; indifferent; listless; careless. "Perfunctory in his devotions." -- Sharp.
Perfunctory (a.) Hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough; "a casual (or cursory) inspection failed to reveal the house's structural flaws"; "a passing glance"; "perfunctory courtesy" [syn: casual, cursory, passing(a), perfunctory].
Perfunctory (a.) As a formality only; "a one-candidate pro forma election" [syn: pro forma, perfunctory].
Perfuncturate (v. t.) To perform in a perfunctory manner; to do negligently. [R.]
Perfused (imp. & p. p.) of Perfuse.
Perfusing (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Perfuse.
Perfuse (v. t.) To suffuse; to fill full or to excess. -- Harvey.
Perfuse (v. t.) To pass a liquid through or over; as, the isolated kidney was perfused with saline solution.
Perfuse (v. t.) (Surgery) To pass (a liquid) through an organ.
Perfuse (v.) Force a fluid through (a body part or tissue); "perfuse a liver with a salt solution".
Perfuse (v.) Cause to spread or flush or flood through, over, or across; "The sky was suffused with a warm pink color" [syn: suffuse, perfuse].
Perfusion (n.) The act of perfusing.
Perfusion (n.) Pumping a liquid into an organ or tissue (especially by way of blood vessels).
Perfusive (a.) Of a nature to flow over, or to spread through. Pergamenous
Pergamenous (a.) Alt. of Pergamentaceous
Pergamentaceous (a.) Like parchment.
Perhaps (adv.) Posibly; by chance; peradventure; perchance; it may be.
And pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. -- Acts viii. 22.
Perhaps (adv.) By chance; "perhaps she will call tomorrow"; "we may possibly run into them at the concert"; "it may peradventure be thought that there never was such a time" [syn: possibly, perchance, perhaps, maybe, mayhap, peradventure].
Peri- () A prefix used to signify around, by, near, over, beyond, or to give an intensive sense; as, perimeter, the measure around; perigee, point near the earth; periergy, work beyond what is needed; perispherical, quite spherical.
Peris (n. pl. ) of Peri
Peri (n.) An imaginary being, male or female, like an elf or fairy, represented as a descendant of fallen angels, excluded from paradise till penance is accomplished.
Periagua (n.) See Pirogue.
Perianth (n.) The leaves of a flower generally, especially when the calyx and corolla are not readily distinguished.
Perianth (n.) A saclike involucre which incloses the young fruit in most hepatic mosses. See Illust. of Hepatica.
Perianthium (n.) The perianth.
Periapt (n.) A charm worn as a protection against disease or mischief; an amulet.
Periastral (a.) Among or around the stars.
Periastron (n.) That point, in the real or apparent orbit of one star revolving around another, at which the former is nearest to the latter.
Periauger (n.) See Pirogue.
Periblast (a.) The protoplasmic matter which surrounds the entoblast, or cell nucleus, and undergoes segmentation.
Periblem (n.) Nascent cortex, or immature cellular bark.
Peribolos (n.) In ancient architecture, an inclosed court, esp., one surrounding a temple.
Peribranchial (a.) Surrounding the branchiae; as, a peribranchial cavity.
Peribranchial (a.) Around the bronchi or bronchial tubes; as, the peribronchial lymphatics.
Pericambium (n.) A layer of thin-walled young cells in a growing stem, in which layer certain new vessels originate.
Pericardiac (a.) Alt. of Pericardial
Pericardial (a.) Of or pertaining to pericardium; situated around the heart.
Pericardian (a.) Pericardiac.
Pericardic (a.) Pericardiac.
Pericarditus (n.) Inflammation of the pericardium.
Pericardium (n.) The double baglike fold of serous membrane which incloses the heart.
Pericarp (n.) The ripened ovary; the walls of the fruit. See Illusts. of Capsule, Drupe, and Legume.
Pericarpial (a.) Alt. of Pericarpic.
Pericarpic (a.) Of or pertaining to a pericarp.
Pericellular (a.) Surrounding a cell; as, the pericellular lymph spaces surrounding ganglion cells.
Perichaeth (n.) The leafy involucre surrounding the fruit stalk of mosses; perichaetium; perichete.
Perichaetial (a.) Of or pertaining to the perichaeth.
Perichaetia (n. pl. ) of Perichaetium.
Perichaetium (n.) Same as Perichaeth.
Perichaetous (a.) Surrounded by setae; -- said of certain earthworms (genus Perichaetus).
Perichete (n.) Same as Perichaeth.
Perichondrial (a.) Of or pertaining to the perichondrium; situated around cartilage.
Perichondritis (n.) Inflammation of the perichondrium.
Perichondrium (n.) The membrane of fibrous connective tissue which closely invests cartilage, except where covering articular surfaces.
Perichordal (a.) Around the notochord; as, a perichordal column. See Epichordal.
Periclase (n.) Alt. of Periclasite.
Periclasite (n.) A grayish or dark green mineral, consisting essentially of magnesia (magnesium oxide), occurring in granular forms or in isometric crystals.
Periclinia (n. pl. ) of Periclinium.
Periclinium (n.) The involucre which surrounds the common receptacle in composite flowers.
Periclitate (v. t.) To endanger.
Periclitation (n.) Trial; experiment.
Periclitation (n.) The state of being in peril.
Pericope (n.) A selection or extract from a book; especially (Theol.), a selection from the Bible, appointed to be read in the churches or used as a text for a sermon.
Pericranial (a.) Of or pertaining to the pericranium.
Pericranium (n.) The periosteum which covers the cranium externally; the region around the cranium.
Periculous (a.) Dangerous; full of peril.
Pericula (n. pl. ) of Periculum.
Periculum (n.) Danger; risk.
Periculum (n.) In a narrower, judicial sense: Accident or casus, as distinguished from dolus and culpa, and hence relieving one from the duty of performing an obligation.
Periderm (n.) The outer layer of bark.
Periderm (n.) The hard outer covering of hydroids and other marine animals; the perisarc.
Peridiastole (n.) The almost inappreciable time which elapses between the systole and the diastole of the heart.
Peridia (n. pl. ) of Peridium.
Peridium (n.) The envelope or coat of certain fungi, such as the puffballs and earthstars.
Peridot (n.) Chrysolite.
Peridotite (n.) An eruptive rock characterized by the presence of chrysolite (peridot). It also usually contains pyroxene, enstatite, chromite, etc. It is often altered to serpentine.
Peridrome (n.) The space between the columns and the wall of the cella, in a Greek or a Roman temple.
Periecians (n. pl.) See Perioecians.
Perienteron (n.) The primitive perivisceral cavity.
Periergy (n.) Excessive care or diligence.
Periergy (n.) A bombastic or labored style.
Periganglionic (a.) Surrounding a ganglion; as, the periganglionic glands of the frog.
Perigastric (a.) Surrounding the stomach; -- applied to the body cavity of Bryozoa and various other Invertebrata.
Perigean (a.) Pertaining to the perigee.
Perigee (n.) Alt. of Perigeum.
Perigeum (n.) That point in the orbit of the moon which is nearest to the earth; -- opposed to apogee. It is sometimes, but rarely, used of the nearest points of other orbits, as of a comet, a planet, etc. Called also epigee, epigeum.
Perigenesis (n.) A theory which explains inheritance by the transmission of the type of growth force possessed by one generation to another.
Perigenetic (a.) Of or pertaining to perigenesis.
Perigone (n.) Any organ inclosing the essential organs of a flower; a perianth.
Perigone (n.) In mosses, the involucral bracts of a male flower.
Perigone (n.) A sac which surrounds the generative bodies in the gonophore of a hydroid.
Perigonia (n. pl. ) of Perigonium.